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Elias Knubben is a leading expert in bionics, industrial automation, and innovation management. Since August 2018, he has been the Head of Research and Innovation at Festo, where he drives cutting-edge advancements in automation and robotics. He also represents Festo in the Bionic Learning Network, a collaboration between Festo, top universities, research institutes, and development companies. This initiative explores how principles from nature can inspire groundbreaking technical applications and industrial solutions.

After completing his apprenticeship in metal construction with the artist Prof. Erich Hauser in Rottweil in 1999, Elias studied industrial design at the Stuttgart Academy of Art, earning his diploma in 2004. He joined Festo in 2005, where he played a crucial role in the Corporate Bionic Projects division, pioneering biomimetic engineering solutions.

In parallel, Elias is conducting research at the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart under Prof. Werner Sobek, with a focus on sustainable automation and adaptive robotics.

With his strong expertise in bionics, conceptual design, and project management, Elias is at the forefront of transforming industrial automation through nature-inspired innovation.